of the Skeleton of BalcenSjptera Rorqual. '229 



processes of these vertebrae are very large, and in substance 

 they are more dense and compact than the other vertebrae ; 

 which may be supposed to be thus made stronger 



" By Him who never errs," 



in consequence of their having to support the whole weight 

 of the chest, whh the heart, lungs, &c. &c. ; together with the 

 fins or swimming paws, and shoulder bones. This portion 

 of the spine is curved, the convexity is upwards : by this 

 means the cavity of the chest is greatly enlarged. 



The Bones of the Loins are sixteen in number, and bear 

 considerable resemblance to the preceding, and are without 

 any articulating surfaces ; but it may be here observed, that 

 there exists not the slightest vestige of any abdominal limbs : 

 and there are found attached to these bones, by means of 

 muscles, two little bones, forming the ossa pubis ; and this 

 forms the only vestige of a pelvis. But I shall revert to this 

 subject presently. 



The caudal Verteh^ce, or those approaching towards the 

 tail, are eighteen in number, and have bony appendages at 

 their inferior surfaces, with the exception of the eight nearest 

 to the tail where the appendages disappear. This portion of 

 -the spine tapers towards the extremity ; and, where it joins 

 the tail, it exhibits a slight curve, the convexity of which is 

 placed inferiorly. 



Of the Ribs. — These are fourteen on each side, and form 

 the walls of the chest. The structure of these bones is dense, 

 firm, and compact ; which, with their size and thickness, ren- 

 ders the animal capable of resisting the most violent shocks : 

 with the exception of the first, which is almost vertical, the 

 others take a more posterior direction. The head of the first 

 rib is double, and articulated with the transverse processes of 

 the seventh and eighth vertebrae by means of tubercles received 

 into the articulated fossae [cavities] of the vertebrae. The 

 dimensions of this rib are very considerable, and the sternal 

 extremity of it is much larger than the sternum itself. 

 There is but one actual sternal rib on each side which is 

 fairly articulated with the sternum ; whilst the others are, as in 

 most other Mammalia, connected to that bone by a thick and 

 powerful intervening cartilage, of which only the first five 

 pair are real true ribs, and form any attachment to the ster- 

 num : the others are united to each other as the false ribs 

 usually are, and the last three are not connected at all ; con- 

 sequently, we not improperly denominate them floating ribs. 

 The fourth rib is the longest, and measures 9 ft, in length ; 

 the others gradually diminish as they approach the four* 



Q 3 



